Friction-clutch.



W. J. HILLIARD.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

LPYLIOATION FILED 13110.3, 1910. RENEWED MAR. 30, 1912.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

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I J. HILLIARD, F ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES H. KNIPP, OF ELMIRA, 'NEW YORK.

. To all whom it may concern:

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Application filed December 3, 1910, Serial No.

' Be it known that I, WILLIAM HinLmiu), a; citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of- New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Friction- Cl'utches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in friction clutches of the disk type; and my object is to provide. a clutch of this nature which will be particularly adapted forautomobile use, and which canbe quickly and positively set and released with the smallest ossible movement of the shifting sleeve; and, further, to provide means for quickly and uniformly taking up the wear on the working parts.

I attain my objects by constructing the clutch .in the manner illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, in which.-

. Figure 1 presents a longitudinal section through the center of the clutch; Fig. 2, a transverse section on the line aa in Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4, details ofthe setting-up mechanism.

- Like numerals designate like parts in the several views.

To an engine'shaft 1 and a fly wheel 2, fastened together in any of the usual ways, I attach a stub shaft 3, which in the illustration is shown as flanged and bolted in place with the same bolts by which the fly wheel and shaft are fastened together. Upon this stub shaft the inner end of the hub 4 is mounted to rotate on ball bearings; and the hub is provided at 5 with a flange, which, as herein shown, is provided, to avoid unnecessary weight, with three extensions in which are formed bearings for the clutch operating mechanism. A disk 6 is mounted at the inward end of the hub, and is drawn against a shoulder thereon by means of the bolts 7, which pass through holes provided therefor in the flange 5; the disk being thus fastened to the hub at a fixed distance from the flange 5, so as torotate therewith. An outside friction disk .8 is slidably mounted upon the hub, and is' rotated therewith-by reason of its engagement with the bolts 7. Between Specification of Letters Patent.- Patenf-d Aug, 13, 1912'.

595,452. Renewed March 80, 1912. Ser'ial No. 687,525.

the disks 6 and 8 one or more friction rings 9 are Inserted, said rings being in sliding engagement with splines 10 on the inside of a. shell 10 fastened to the fly wheel. As illustrated, I have shown two of these friction rings, provided with suitable friction faces,

in which case there must also be employed an intermediate disk 11, which is engaged by the bolts 7, to rotatewith the hub. The disk 8 is provided with studs 26 which pass through brackets 28 on the flange 5, springs 27 being inserted between the heads of the studs and the brackets to drawthe disk outward when the clutch is released.

Upon the outward faceof the disks 8, cyhndrical cam blocks 12 are placed at suitable intervals apart, beingv fastened against rotation by pins 12 or other suitable means. Preferably there will be three of these cams placed at angles of 120 apart, the centers of the cams being set at equal radial distances from thecenter of the hub. A cross bar 13, having a rounded face to engage a cam 12, is mounted to turn in bearings on each of the projections from the flange 5; said cross bars being provided with short arbors, which extend through said bearings and are provided with squared projecting ends upon which are fastened spiral gear segments 14, said segments being in mesh with longitudinally movable rack barsv 15, out with corresponding teeth. These rack bars are carried by a shifting sleeve 16, mounted upon a shaft '17, by which connection is made to thetransring 21, which is to be coupled to a foot lever in the usualfmanner.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the parts of the clutch are shown in released position. When the clutch is to be set, the pressure of the foot lever on the ring 21 will be released, thereby permitting the spring 18 to force the sleeve 16and rack bars inward. This move ment of the rack bars imparts partial rota-ltion to the gear-segments 14:, thereby turn.

sleeve outward against the spring tension,

the cross bars 13 are turned back, thereby permitting the disk 8 to move outward and release the clutch part-s. As wear takes place between the friction disks and rings, the'lo-st motion between the cross bars 13 and cams 12 will be taken up by means of a disk 22, which is screw threaded upon the outward end of the hub 4. This disk is provided with an annular groove 23, the radius of which corresponds with the radius of the centers of the arborsonthe cross bars, and the outward ends of these arbors are provided with hemispherical sockets 24, in each of which a ball is placed to engage thegroove on the disk 12. This also forms a thrust bearing for each arbor and prevents friction between the cross bar and the inward face of the flange 5. When wear takes place the disk will be screwed inwardly sufficient to take up the wear; this inward movement of the disk being transmitted simultaneously'and to equal degree to each of the cross bars 13. Any suitable means for locking the disk in adjusted position may be employed.-

- As herein shown, the shell 10 is inwardly flanged on its outward side, so as to overlap.

theouter edge of the disk 22, thus inclos'ing the clutch parts, and forming a dust guard therefor. In addition, I provide this part of the shell with an inturned flange having an inside groove 25, by which the oil contained in the shell, when thrown outward by centrifugal force. will be caught and prevented from passing outward through the joint between the casing and the disk, when the clutch is brought to-rest; the'oil so caught being returned .to the shell. The casing is removably attached 4 to the fly wheel, as'shown, to permit of the assembling of the parts, and to permit the shell to be removed for repairs tothe-clutch.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a friction clutch, the combination with one or more. friction rings, of inside and outside gripping members, a plurality of cylindrical cams fastened upon the outward side of the outside member, crossbars engaging said cams and revolubl; mounted on the hub of the clutch, and means for turning said cross-bars.

4 2. In a friction clutch, the combinationwith one or more friction rings, of inside and outside gripping members, a pluralityof cylindrical cams fastened upon the outward side of: the outside member, cross-bars en gaging said cams and'having arbors revolubly mounted on the hub of the clutch, segmental spirallycut gears onsaid arbors, and a shifting sleeve provided: with rack barsin meshwith said gears. 3. In a friction clutch, the combination with one or more friction rings, of; inside.

and outside gripping members, -a. hub upon I which the outside member is slidably mountwhich the inside member is fixed and upon ,forward and back rotative movement to the arbors from the sleeve.

4. In "a friction clutch, the combination with one or more friction rings, of inside and outside grippmg members, a hub upon which. the inside member is fixed 'andupon which the outside member is slidably niourited, a flange on the hub,'a plurality of setting up devices between the flange and the outside-member, each comprising a camfpart' and acam engaging part, one of which parts is fastened upon said member and the other revolubly mounted inthe flange, a shifting sleeve, and'means for imparting forward and back rotative movement to the revoluble parts from the sleeve.

- '5; In a friction clutch, the combination with one or more friction rings, of'inside and o'utsilie gripping members, a hub upon which the one member is fixed and. the other slidably mounted, a flange on the hub," a plurality of setting up devices between the flange and the outside member, each 'comprising a cam part and a cam engaging part,- one of which parts is fastened upon said member and .the other provided with an arbor journaled in the flange, thrust bear-R ings between the hub and the outward ends of said arbors, a shifting sleeve, and means for imparting forward and back rotative movement to the arbors from the sleeve;

6. In a friction clutch, the combination with one or .more friction rings, of inside and outside gripping members, a hub upon which the one member is fixed and the-other. slidably mounted, a flange 6n the hub, a plu rality of setting up devicesbetween the flange and the outside member, each comprising a cam and an engaging cross-bar,"-

one of which partsis fastenedupon. said.

forward and back rot-ative movement to the wardly and provided with an internal annuarbors from the sleeve. lar groove. 1

7. Ina friction clutch, the combination In testimony whereof I have afiixed my with the clutch members, of a shell inclosing signature, in presence of two witnesses.

5 said members at one side and around their WM. J. HILLIARD.

perlphery, the open side of the shell being Witnesses: provided with an inturned flange and the EUGENE DIVEN,

rim of the flange being in turn flanged in- M. E. VERBECK. 

